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Former Pakistani off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq was quoted terming Sachin Tendulkar‘s retirement from Test cricket as a “big loss” for the longest format of the game.

Saqlain, who bowled against Tendulkar during his prime days, said, “Sachin’s retirement is a big loss to world cricket. He is not only an amazing player but a great human being as well. I have a lot of respect for him.”

Sachin Tendulkar will play his last Test match against the West Indies at Mumbai this November.

Saqlain, who was instrumental in handing India a 12-run loss in the epic Test match in Chennai in 1998, said that he enjoyed the challenge of bowling against Tendulkar and felt honored that he played as one of his contemporaries.

“I am lucky to have played against him. It’s been an honour to have bowled to Sachin…sometimes I got the better of him,”

Saqlain, the inventor of the famous doosra, has been training the West Indian spinners ahead of their tour to India but it feels that the young spinners would face an uphill task to contain the Indian batsmen in their own backyard.

“India is a very tough team at home and this series will be an emotional one for them. To be able to win in India, you must be mentally and physically fit. You need to know your game very well. Playing against Sachin, our bowlers must have the confidence to beat a player of his stature,” he said.

He also added that the MS Dhoni led team, right now, is the best team in the world and West Indies would find it very tough to compete against them.

“India, at this time, is the best team in the world. They have a winning mentality. It’s difficult to beat them at home.”